Bracket for barn door tracks



. June 27, 1950 R. e. FERRIS BRACKET FOR BARN DOOR TRACKS Filed July 1, 1948 Patented June 27, 1950 BRACKET FOR BARN DOOR TRACKS Robert Gaye Ferris, Harvard, Ill., assignor to Starline Inc., Harvard Illinois 111., a corporation of Application July 1, 1948, Serial No. 36,517

10 Claims.

More particularly the invention relates to a bracket for use with tubular tracks. It is the general object of the invention to provide a new and improved bracket which is universal'in character and adapted for use at a splice or joint between two track sections and also at a position intermediate the ends of a track section.

, Another object is to provide such a bracket normally constructed to serve as a support for two track sections at the joint therebetween and readily convertible for use at a point intermediate the ends of a track section.

Another object is to provide such a bracket having a tubular member through which the tubular track extends and a pair of knock-out lugs projecting inwardly from the tubular member and positioned toengage slots in the adjacent ends of two track sections, the knock-out lugs being readily removable to permit use of the bracket at a position intermediate the ends of a track section.

A further objectis to provide a bracket comprising an angle member and a tubular member secured thereto, the portion of the tubular memher which is attached to the angular member being provided with recesses into which attaching rivets extend so as not to project into the space occupied by a tubular track section, and readily removable means forming lugs for engaging slots in the adjacent ends of track sections when the bracket is used at a joint.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 1

Fig. 11s a fragmentary lan view of a barn door track including a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section alongthe line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the left hand end of Fig. 1.

I Fig. 4 is a section along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 2. v Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a bracket with a modified form of lug.

While I have shown in the drawings and will hereinafter describe in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings, I0 indicatessections of tubular track having slots I l extending longitudinally along the bottoms thereof. The bracket for supporting the track-may be used as shown at the left hand end of Figs. 1 and 2 for carrying the adjacent ends of two track sections "to form a splice or joint and also is suitable for use intermediate the ends of a single track section as shown at the right hand end of Figs. 1 and 2.

, Each bracket, comprises an angle member I2 and a tubular member I3. The angle member is generally attached to a wall or the like by means of one leg thereof, and has the other leg extending horizontally as shown. The tubular member has an internal. diameter permitting the track to pass therethrough with a snug fit,.a ndhas a slot I 4 aligned with the track slotl l when the parts are properly assembled so that door hangers may pass along the track. Intermediate its ends, the tubular member I 3is provided with a wide annular rib I5 for strength. The walli of the rib is pressed outwardly at .l 6 and I I to provide recesses l8 and I9 and a flat surface 20 which fits against the horizontal leg of the angle. member l2. Headed devices such as rivets 2| are preferably provided to secure the tubular member to the angle member andhave their heads located in the recesses I8 and I9 so asnot to interfere with the tubular track I0 when'it is insertedthrough the tubular member. As seen inlFig.- 1, the rivets are on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the bracket and thus there is almost no rocking of the bracket parts to loosen the rivets.

The ends of the track sections I0 are generally formed with slots 22 as shown best in Fig. 3. These are interengaged with lugs on the brackets when the bracket is used at a joint as shown in the left hand end in Figs. 1 and 2, and in Fig. 3, so that the track sections will have the hanger slots aligned-with the slots of the bracket andwill be held against rotation. and linear movement during use. As shown herein, the tubular members I 3 are provided with a pairof knock-out lugs 23 formed by punching portions of the tubular member inwardly. These lugs are partially cut away from the tubular member but not sufiicient- 1y to cause them to drop out unless suitable tools are used to knock them"out,-'as for example a nail or punch and hammer. These knock-out lugs remain attached to the tubular member with sufficient strength to securely hold the track members in their proper positions when the track is installed. If, however, some of'the brackets are to be used for supporting portions. of the track intermediate its ends, the-knock-out' lugs 23 may readily be punched out by inserting and hammering anail or punchthrough the holes 24 in the angle member, thus leaving ,a smooth inner surface on the tubular member I3 as shown in the right hand portion of Fig. 2 and permitting the.

track Ill to pass entirely through the bracket.

By locating the heads of the rivets 2| in recesses as herein shown and providing knock-out lugs, I have provided a bracket which is universal in character in that it may readily be used either to the other by a simple operation at the time;

it is installed.

In Fig. 6 is shown a, modification of the bracket of Figs. 1 to 5. In this form of the inventionthe bracket I3 is provided with one elongated lug 233a the ends of which are adapted to fit into the slots 22 in the ends of the track sections I11. I claim: I

1. Abracket for tubular track sections, each;

section having an unobstructed longitudinal slot .for passing ,a doorhanger andeslot in the bracket engaging end thereof for, receiving a portion of said bracket, comprising, .an anglemembertadapted to be supported with one leg extending .hor'izontally, a tubular member having .a slot corresponding ,to the longitudinal slot .in each track section attached .to the horizontal leg of the angle member and having an internal diameter at its .ends snugly receiving .a track section, and having an enlarged external .rib intermediate its ends, said tubular member having v,a pair of integral knock-out lugs projecting downwardly from the .upper portion thereof, each of said lugs being aligned so as to interengage one with each ofthe slots ,in abutting ends of the two sections l of track to be supported thereby and to position the longitudinal slots of the track sections in .line with the slot in the tubular member when the bracket is positioned at a joint between track sections, said angle member havingholes therethrough coinciding with the knock-out lugs to permit the entry of a tool to knock out the lugs when the bracket is to be used intermediate the ends of a track section. v

2. A bracket for tubular track sections, each section having an unobstructed longitudinal slot for passing a door hanger and a'sloti'n the bracket engaging endthereof for receiving a portion of said bracket, comprising, an' angle rhember adapted to be supported with one leg extending horizontally, a tubular member having a slot corresponding to the longitudinal slot in each track section attached to thev horizontal leg of the angle member and adapted to receive the abutting ends of two track sections and having portions pressed 'outwardlyto provide a surface to engage the angle member, said tubular mem ber having a pair of integral knock-out lugs pro-.

j ecting downwardly from the upper portion thereof, each of said'lugs being aligned so as to interengage one with each of the slots in abutting ends of the two sections of track to be supported thereby and to position the longitudinalslot of the track sections in line with the slot in the tubular member when the bracket :is positioned ata joint between track sections. i

3. A bracket for tubular track'seotionmeach section having an unobstructed longitudinal slot for passing a door hanger anda slot in the bracket engaging end thereof for receiving a portion of said bracket comprising an angle member, .a tubular member having a slot corresponding to the longitudinal slot in. each track section .attached to one leg of the angle member and.havtingan internal diameter sufficient to snugly 4 receive a track section, and means securing the tubular member to the angle member, said tubular member having integral knock-out lugs projecting inwardly therefrom, each of said lugs being arranged to interengage one with each of the slots in the abutting ends of two sections of track to be supported thereby and to position the longitudinal slots of the track sections in .line with the slot in thetubular member when the bracket is positioned at a joint between track sections, said lugs being readily removable to permit the bracket to be used intermediate the ends of a track section.

-4. ,A bracket for tubular track sections having ent in the bracket engaging end of each section for receiving 'a portion of said bracket comprising, a supporting member, a tubular member' attached to the supporting member and adapted snugly to receive the abutting ends of two adjacent track sections, and having portions pressed outwardly to provide a surface to engage the supporting'member and to form recesses, said tubular, memberhaving .a pair'of integral removable non-replaceable lugs projecting inwardlyfrom, a, portion thereof so as to interengage with the .slot in the abutting end of each of' the two sections of track to be supported thereby when the bracket. .ispositioned at a vjoint between track sections, said lugs being readily removable to. permit the bracket to be used intermediate the ends of oneof the'track sections.

5. Abracket for, tubular track sections having a slot in the bracket engaging end of each section for receiving a portion of .said bracket comprising, a supporting member, ,a' tubular member attached to the supporting member and adapted to rec eive the vabutting ends of two adbracket to be used intermediatetheends of one of the track sections. v V V 1 6. A bracket for tubular track sectionshaving a slot in the bracket en aging. end of each section for receiving a portion of ,said bracket comprising, a supporting imember, 'a tubular member attached to the supporting member and adapted to receive theabutting ends of two adjacent track sections, means securing the tubula member-Vito the supporting member and at least one integral removable non-replaceable lug projecting inwardly from a portion of said tubular member in positiontolintenengage-with'the slot in the abutting end of each .orthe two sections of track to be supported thereby when the bracketis .positionedat a joint between tracksections, saidlu'g being readily removable .to ,per-

- mit the bracket to be used intermediatethe ends of one of the tracksections.)

{A bracket for tubular track sections havinga slot in thebracket engaging. end --of.1ea ch section for receiving a portion of said bracket cQmprising, a tubular member adapted to receive the abutting ends .oftwo adjacent track sections, means ,securing the tubular member to a support .and at least one integrallremoyable non-replaceable lug projecting-inwardly from .a portion .of .said. tubular member, in position to .in-

sn a i 1 9? min b t i nd e each of the two sections of track to be supported by the bracket when the bracket is positioned at a joint between track sections, said lug being readily removable to permit the bracket to be used intermediate the ends of one of the track sections.

8. A bracket for a tubular track section having a slot in its bracket engaging end to receive a portion of said bracket comprising, a tubular member adapted to receive the bracket engaging end of a track section, means securing the tubular member to a support, and an integral removable lug projecting inwardly from a portion of said tubular member in position to interengage with the slot in the end of the section of track to be supported by the bracket when the bracket is positioned at a joint between track sections, said lug being readily removable to permit the bracket to be used intermediate the ends of a track section.

9. A bracket for a tubular track section having an unobstructed longitudinal slot for passing a door hanger, comprising, an angle member adapted to be supported with one leg extending horizontally, a tubular member having a slot corresponding to the longitudinal slot in the track section attached by means of rivets to the horizontal leg of the angle member and having an internal diameter at its ends to snugly receive the track section and having an enlarged external rib intermediate its ends and portions pressed outwardly from the rib to provide a fiat surface to engage the horizontal leg of the angle member and to form recesses to receive the heads of said rivets so as to leave an unobstructed opening in the bracket toreceive the tubular track section.

10. A bracket according to claim 9 in which the rivets are spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the bracket.

ROBERT GAYE FERRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 902,221 Ferris et al Oct. 27, 1908 908,849 Ferris Jan. 5, 1909 1,028,900 Neller et al June 11, 1912 1,536,483 Elliott May 5, 1925 1,777,136 Bittorf Sept. 30, 1930 1,791,527 Hoffman Feb. 10, 1931 

